The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) may serve as a catalyst for a revival of the labor movement in the United States, potentially uniting workers across sectors who feel threatened by technological disruption. It begins by recalling that at mid-20th century peak, about 35 % of U.S. workers were unionized, a level that has since sharply declined due to corporate influence, anti-labor laws, and decades of pro-market messaging. With AI increasingly perceived as a threat to jobs and economic security, some experts suggest this shared vulnerability could help rekindle collective worker action.
Labor leaders like Sarita Gupta of the Ford Foundation contend that AI has created a rare opportunity for workers of all types — from warehouse employees to software engineers — to see common ground in their workplace struggles. As tasks once seen as safe from automation face disruption, traditional class divides may blur, fostering broader solidarity. Gupta emphasizes that technology’s impact is shaped by social choices, and worker agency in defining how AI is deployed could determine whether it becomes oppressive or a tool for shared prosperity.
The article also highlights growing economic anxiety: white-collar and blue-collar workers alike are enduring significant layoffs, and polls indicate that a large majority of Americans fear AI could permanently eliminate too many jobs. Millions of workers reportedly want union representation but lack access to it, underlining a deep sense of insecurity. This discontent has already manifested in strikes and protests, prompting concerned responses from business leaders worried about broader social unrest.
Ultimately, the piece suggests that whether this moment leads to meaningful labor organizing depends on workers’ ability to turn widespread dissatisfaction into collective power. Gupta argues that workers must push for the democratic governance of technology and ensure that AI is shaped to benefit people rather than entrench corporate dominance. The future of labor activism, in this view, may hinge on how societies choose to manage the growing influence of AI.
